Rural-mail-box signal.



W. B. HART. V RURAL MAIL BOX SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1909.

Patented July 13, 1909.

UNTTE ST WILLIAM E. HART, Ol ANDALUSIA, ALABAMA.

RURAL-MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1909.

Application filed March 11, 1909. Serial No. 482,738.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TVILLIAM E. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Andalusia, in the county of Covington and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rural- Mail-Box Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rural mail box signals.

The object of the invention is to provide a rural mail delivery box and signal having means whereby the signal will be locked in an operative position when the covering of the box is closed, thus preventing the signal from being tampered with.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box having a signal arranged thereon in accordance with the invention and showing the signal locked in operative position; Fig. 2 is an end view of a box showing the cover open and the signal in an inoperative position; and Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal view through a portion of the mail box on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the mail box which may be of any suitable shape and which is provided with a hinged cover 2, the ends of which project slightly beyond the ends of the box and are provided with depending flanges 3. The box is provided with a suitable locking mechanism for securing the cover in closed position, said mechanism being here shown in the form of a locking plate or hasp 4, which is secured to the front side of the box and proj ects above the same. The projecting upper end of the hasp is provided with an aperture 5 with which is adapted to be engaged a padlock 6. The cover 2 is provided adjacent to its front edge with a slot 7 which when the cover is in closed position is adapted to be engaged with the projecting upper end of the hasp bar 4 after which the padlock is engaged with the aperture 5 in said end of the bar, thus securely locking the cover in closed position.

The signal is here shown as prejl'erably arranged on one end of the box and preferably consists of a llat metal bar 8, the lower end of which is "fixedly connected with. the squared outer end of a shalt 9 which is rcvolnbly mounted in suitable bearings on the bottom of and within the box as shown. The squared ends oi the shaft 9 project through one end of the bottom to receive the signal bar 8, while the inner end of the shaft is bent at right angles and forms a stop arm 10, which when the signal is in aninoperative position engages the bottom of the box, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 oi the drawing. On the shaft 9 is arranged a coil spring 12, one end ol' which is secured to the stop arm 10, while the opposite end is engaged with the bottom of the box whereby the pressure or tension of the spring is exerted to turn the shaft in the proper direction for swinging the signal bar dmvnwardly to an inoperative position along the outer side of the end of the box. hen the signal bar is thus swung down to an inoperative position, said bar engages a stop bracket 13 secured to the end of the box, as shown. In the end of the cover 2 which projects over the end of the box having the signal thereon is -lormed an elongated aperture or slot 14 with which the signal is adapted to be engaged when in an operative position and the cover of the box closed. hen the signal bar 8 is in an operative position and engaged with the slot l-i and the cover locked in closed position the signal arm will be securely held in operative position, thus preventing the signal from being tampered with or moved to an inoperative posi tion. If desired the signal bar may be provided with a suitable handle 15 to facilitate the moving of the same to an operative position.

In the operation oil the device as the postman or carrier deposits mail in the box, he will move the signal bar to an operative posltion so that when the (over of the box is closed the slot 14 will be engagedv "with the bar and will hold the same in an operative position, thus indicating that mail has been placed in the box. The signal will be thus held in an operative position until the cover oil the box is opened, at which time the slot-' ted end oi the cover will be disengaged from the signal bar which Will permit the spring 12 on the shaft 9 to swing the bar downwardly to an inoperative position and into engagement with the bracket 13.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, 1s

1. In a rural mail box, a cover having a slot formed therein, a pivotally mounted spring retracted signal bar adapted to pass through said slot in the cover When the latter is in a closed position to hold said signal arm in position and from movement in either direction and means to support or hold the signal arm in an inoperative position.

2. In a rural mail box, a cover having an overhanging edge With a slot formed therein,

a locking mechanism to fasten said cover in closed position, a signal shatt revolubly mounted in one end of said box, a signal bar fixed on the outer end of said shaft and adapted to pass through said slot in the cover When the latter is closed whereby said signal bar is held from movement in either direction, a spring arranged on said shaft to retract the signal bar to an inoperative position When the cover of the box is opened and a stop bracket to receive the signal arm when in a retracted or inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witne'sses.

l VILLIAM E. HART. Witnesses:

HENRY OPP, RICHARD H. JoNEs. 

